The European Commission is ready to impose a fine of 2m Euros ($2.5m; £1.4m) a day on Microsoft. The Commission is expected to rule that Microsoft has failed to fully implement its 2004 antitrust decision. Under the ruling, Microsoft had to supply rivals with information about its Windows operating system.

I consider it a matter of the European Commission grossly over-estimating their ability to exert control over a non-EU based corporation.

This remains to be seen. Microsoft has assets in the EU, which can be seized in the event MS decides to ignore local European laws.

I also wonder why being based in another country than an EU member state exempts you from following European laws. If this were true, I wonder why European companies even put up with United States laws. Since they are not based in the USA, they can safely ignore them following your twisted logic.

May I remember U.S. citizens about the Dmitri Sklyarov case? Sklyarov reverse engineered a DRM-ed e-book format in the former USSR, where this is perfectly legal. Upon landing in the USA, he was arrested and charged under the DMCA. Since when do US laws reach over US borders, making law abiding citizens of a foreign sovereign state criminals under US laws?

At least the EU is charging Microsofts European business in the EU. They are not pursuing them for violations elsewhere.